• Voto:
Si lo so, l'ennesima recensione di "Selling England By The Pound", ma stavolta credo di avere un motivo. Essenzialmente, questo disco mi fa cagare, lo considero il peggiore dei Genesis, almeno quelli anni '70.
I Genesis videro una rapida ascesa all'interno del panorama progressive. Dopo un primo disco passabile, crearono il loro autentico capolavoro: "Trespass", un disco carico di tensione emotiva e voglia di comunicare. Seguì "Nursery Cryme", che incattivì il suono e risultò ugualmente un capolavoro. Seguì ancora "Foxtrot", l'album che li pose di fronte ad una scelta: "continuiamo con le suite di raffinatezza jazzistica o torniamo ruvidi come in Nursery?". Scelsero la prima.
Nel 1973.
Questo dovrebbe spiegare tutto. Tutto l'inutile contenuto in questo autentico classico.
Il disco inizia con Dancing With The Moonlit Knight, tra i pezzi più belli, e non ci piove. Il brano risulta ben piazzato, e peraltro non sfora nemmeno eccessivamente con la durata (7 minuti sono ideali) con un break centrale di assoluto virtuosismo batteristico. Plagio come al solito a Phil Collins, senza dubbio miglior musicista del gruppo e unico virtuoso nel senso stretto del termine. Anche se qualche scala poteva effettivamente venire tagliata in favore dell'immediatezza, il brano è ok, non stanca e fluisce con naturalezza.
Segue I Know What I Like (In Your Wardrobe). Un brano di pop stralunato, dominato da un'organetto che fa tanto Manzanarek ma che resta di buona qualità.
Eccoci arrivati al polpettone. Firth Of Fifth è un brano ridicolmente pompato all'inverosimile, con miriadi di assoli e un testo pastorale alquanto ridicolo. L'assolo di Hackett si salva, ma sono 2 minuti su oltre 9 di assoluta autoreferenzialità e autocompiacimento.
More Fool Me è il secondo momento pop del disco, qui canta Collins, e devo dire che il brano non mi dispiace, è ben inserito e intimistico. Almeno fa riprendere il fiato dopo quella roba indigesta di poco prima.
Con la seconda facciata si raggiungono vertici che definirei di pura idiozia.
The Battle Of Epping Forest è un intruglio a base di friarielli, soffritti vari e industriali quantità di cambi di tempo. Il testo è una specie di poema urbano, e il brano è un calderone di idee messe alla rinfusa e concatenate davvero malerrimo. Dopo decine di ascolti non lascia nulla, solo una sensazione di confusione, ma non la confusione di una Starless o di una Heart Of The Sunrise, la confusione di chi non c'ha capito un cazzo. 11 minuti di faccia aggrottata. Anche se il brano mi è sempre stato simpatico, è innegabile che risulta totalmente incomprensibile per anche i fan più navigati.
After The Ordeal è un altro bel momento semi acustico che, pensate, stava anche per essere tolto dal disco in favore di chissà cos'altro!
The Cinema Show divenne inspiegabilmente un cavallo di battaglia nei concerti. Il brano è, almeno, più coeso e orecchiabile di The Battle, ma risplende dello stesso autocompiacimento borghese di Firth Of Fifth. I primi 5 minuti si salvano, appena inizia l'assolo in 7\8 si capisce all'istante che si sono ripompati la testa. Una serie interminabile di scale, crescendo di tastiere e mellotron e ritmica ossessiva. Manco stessi ascoltando un album di Disco-Trance!
Il disco è considerato tra i più rappresentativi del progressive, e non c'è che dire. Ne riporta con cura certosina ogni singolo stereotipo e ogni singola sfaccettatura più irritante, risultando pesante e autocompiaciuto, privo della forza narrativa di "Nursery" e delle emozioni allo stato puro di "Trespass". C'è molta raffinatezza, una raffinatezza esecutiva di livello incredibile, una raffinatezza esecutiva che supera quella del già a dir poco regale "Foxtrot", una raffinatezza esecutiva nasconde una totale mancanza di misura, non di idee. Di idee ce n'erano. Potevano essere usate meglio, in più brani, con meno polpettoni ripieni e qualche sandwich in più.
Elenco tracce testi e samples
03 Firth of Fifth (09:37)
The path is clear, though no eyes can see
The course laid down long before
And so with gods and men, the sheep remain inside their pen
Though many times they've seen the way to leave
He rides majestic, past homes of men
Who care not or gaze with joy
To see reflected there, the trees, the sky, the lily fair
The scene of death is lying just below
The mountains cut off the town from view
Like a cancer growth is removed by skill
Let it be revealed
A waterfall, his madrigal
An inland sea, his symphony
Undinal songs urge the sailors on
'Till lured by the siren's cry...
Now as the river dissolve in sea
So Neptune has claimed another soul
And so with gods and men, the sheep remain inside their pen
Until the shepherd leads his flock away
The sands of time were eroded by
The river of constant change
04 More Fool Me (03:11)
Here am I
Who while away the mornings
Since you've gone
Too long have I lain alone
Not knowing which way to turn.
And there you are
Quite sure that you were right
Knowing full well
That I'd be the first one
To go down.
And you'd be the one who was laughing
Except when things weren't going your way
And the lady would say that she'd had enough
Wandering around on her own.
The day you left
Well I think you knew you'd not be back
Well at least it would seem that way
Because you never said goodbye.
But when it comes round to you and me
I'm sure it will work out alright.
And you'd be the one who was laughing
And giving me something I don't need
And you know, I'd always hold you and keep you warm
Oh! more fool me.
But when it comes
Round to you and me
I ask myself
Do I really believe
In your love.
And yes, I'm sure it will work out alright.
05 The Battle of Epping Forest (11:48)
(Taken from a news story concerning two rival gangs fighting
over East-End Protection rights)
Along the Forest Road, there's hundreds of cars - luxury cars.
Each has got its load of convertible bars, cutlery cars - superscars!
For today is the day when they sort it out, sort it out,
'cause they disagree on a gangland boundary.
Yes, they disagree on a gangland boundary.
There's Willy Wright and his boys -
one helluva noise, that's Billy's boys!
With fully-fashioned mugs, that's Little John's thugs,
the Barking Slugs - supersmugs!
For today is the day when they sort it out, sort it out,
these Christian soldiers fight to protect the poor.
East end heroes got to score in...
the Battle of Epping Forest,
it's the Battle of Epping Forest,
right outside your door.
You ain't seen nothing like it.
No, you ain't seen nothing like it,
not since the Civil War.
Coming over the hill are the boys of Bill,
and Johnny's lads stand very still.
With the thumpire's shout, they all start to clout
- there's no guns in this gentleman's bout.
Georgie moves in on the outside left
with a chain flying round his head;
and Harold Demure, from Art Literature,
nips up the nearest tree.
(Here come the cavalry!)
Admidst the battle roar,
accountants keep the score: 10-4.
They've never been alone, after getting a radiophone.
The bluebells are ringing for Sweetmeal Sam, real ham,
handing out bread and jam just like any picnic.
It's 5-4 on William Wright; he made his pile on Derby night.
When Billy was a kid, walking the streets,
the other kids hid - so they did!
Now, after working hard in security trade, he's got it made.
The shops that need aid are those that haven't paid.
"I do my double-show quick!" said Mick the Prick, fresh out the nick.
"I sell cheap holiday. The minute they leave,
then a visit I pay - and does it pay!"
And his friend, Liquid Len by name,
of Wine, Women and Wandsworth fame,
said "I'm breaking the legs of the bastard that got me framed!"
They called me the Reverend when I entered the Church unstained;
my employers have changed but the name has remained.
It all began when I went on a tour,
hoping to find some furniture.
I followed a sign - it said "Beautiful Chest".
It led to a lady who showed me her best.
She was taken by surprise when I quickly closed my eyes.
So she rang the bell, and quick as hell
Bob the Nob came out on his job
to see what the trouble was.
"Louise, is the Reverend hard to please?"
"You're telling me!"
"Perhaps, sir, if it's not too late.
we could interest you in our Staffordshire plate?"
"Oh no, not me, I'm a man of repute."
But the Devil caught hold of my soul and a voice called out "Shoot!"
To save my steeple, I visited people;
for this I'd gone when I met Little John.
His name came, I understood,
when the judge said "You're a robbing hood."
He told me of his strange foundation,
conceived on sight of the Woodstock nation;
he'd had to hide his reputation.
When poor, 'twas salvation from door to door.
But now, with a pin-up guru every week,
it's Love, Peace & Truth Incorporated for all who seek.
He employed me as a karmacanic, with overall charms.
His hands were then fit to receive, receive alms.
That's why we're in
the Battle of Epping Forest,
it's the Battle of Epping Forest,
right outside your door.
We guard your souls for peanuts,
and we guard your shops and houses
for just a little more.
In with a left hook is the Bethnal Green Butcher,
but he's countered on the right by Mick's chain-gang fight,
and Liquid Len, with his smashed bottle men,
is lobbing Bob the Nob across the gob.
With his kissar in a mess, Bob seems under stress,
but Jones the Jug hits Len right in the mug;
and Harold Demure, who's still not quite sure,
fires acorns from out of his sling.
(Here come the cavalry!)
Up, up above the crowd,
inside their Silver Cloud, done proud,
the bold and brazen brass, seen darkly through the glass.
The butler's got jam on his Rolls; Roy doles out the lot,
with tea from a silver pot just like any picnic.
Along the Forest Road, it's the end of the day
and the Clouds roll away.
Each has got its load - they'll come out for the count
at the break-in of day.
When the limos return for their final review, it's all thru'
- all they can see is the morning goo.
"There's no-one left alive - must be draw."
So the Blackcap Barons toss a coin to settle the score.
07 The Cinema Show (11:05)
Home from work our juliet
Clears her morning meal.
She dabs her skin with pretty smells
Concealing to appeal.
I will make my bed,
She said, but turned to go.
Can she be late for her cinema show?
Romeo locks his basement flat,
And scurries up the stair.
With head held high and floral tie,
A weekend millionaire.
I will make my bed
With her tonight, he cries.
Can he fail armed with his chocolate surprise?
Take a little trip back with father tiresias,
Listen to the old one speak of all he has lived through.
I have crossed between the poles, for me there's no mystery.
Once a man, like the sea I raged,
Once a woman, like the earth I gave.
But there is in fact more earth than sea.
Take a little trip back with father tiresias,
Listen to the old one speak of all he has lived through.
I have crossed between the poles, for me there's no mystery.
Once a man, like the sea I raged,
Once a woman, like the earth I gave.
But there is in fact more earth than sea.
08 Aisle of Plenty (01:32)
"I don't belong here", said old Tessa out loud.
"Easy, love, there's the Safe Way Home."
- thankful for her Fine Fair discount, Tess Co-operates
Still alone in o-hell-o
- see the deadly nightshade grow
ENGLISH RIBS OF BEEF CUT DOWN TO 47p LB
PEEK FREANS FAMILY ASSORTED FROM 17 1/2 to 12
FAIRY LIQUID GIANT - SLASHED FROM 20p TO 17 1/2
TABLE JELLYS AT 4p EACH
ANCHOR BUTTER DOWN TO 11p FOR A 1/2
BIRDS EYE DAIRY CREAM SPONGE ON OFFER THIS WEEK.
It's Scrambled Eggs.
Carico i commenti... con calma
Altre recensioni
Di Dario Pierini
Ancora una volta i cinque riescono a stupire per l'imprevedibilità delle linee melodiche e l'incredibile ricchezza armonica dei brani.
Firth of Fifth, forse quanto di meglio i Genesis hanno prodotto nella loro carriera: l'intro di piano vale da solo il prezzo del disco.
Di rebel1
La storia della musica non potrà mai fare a meno di ricordare pezzi come "Dancing With The Moonlit Knight" e "Firth Of Fifth".
"I Know What I Like" rimane straordinaria per la modernità del sound (siamo nel 1973), per la carismatica interpretazione di Gabriel e per l'originalità della base ritmica.
Di Breus
‘‘Selling England’’ fin dal suo inizio tradisce la sua natura, con atmosfere folk e metafore socio-politiche.
‘‘The Cinema Show’’ resta il più autentico e spontaneo testamento della carriera originaria dei Genesis.
Di lukather88
I cinque maghi del progressive...danno alla luce 'Selling England By The Pound', straordinario disco che rappresenta alla perfezione il progressive rock.
Molti probabilmente avranno fatto e fanno tuttora con un infinito piacere e con le lacrime agli occhi, per aver appena finito di ascoltare quello che è senz'altro uno dei più grandi capolavori della storia della musica.
Di XBend
"53 minuti di vera goduria, di arte pura esposta da chi l'arte la sa fare bene."
"Molti definiscono 'Selling England By The Pound' come il miglior disco dei Genesis, e io concordo in pieno."
